Passengers 'unlikely' to entitled compensation if flights cancelled as over 1,000 flights grounded across UK airports
Passengers who were impacted by yesterday's travel disruption are unlikely to get compensation, according to an aviation regulator.
On Tuesday (8 September), major airports across the UK were plunged into chaos after a technical failure at Nats, the country's national air traffic control headquarters, meant that flights were unable to take off from major transport hubs such as London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
Flight disruption has continued into today, with 347 flights said to have been cancelled so far.
Now disgruntled passengers have been hit with a new blow, as a spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has stated that people are unlikely to be able to obtain compensation as the disruption will likely be considered 'extraordinary circumstances'.
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"This means that although passengers should be looked after by airlines, they are unlikely to be entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations that were directly caused by the incident," a CAA spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the CAA has reminded airlines of their 'responsibilities to look after passengers whose flights have been delayed or cancelled'.
What am I entitled to if my flight is cancelled?
While the news that compensation is unlikely will come as a blow to travellers, airlines are expected to provide some level of support.
According to CAA rules, if your flight is delayed, you are entitled to reimbursement for food and drink as well as accommodation if the delay is overnight.
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund or to be rebooked onto the next available flight.
You may also be eligible for compensation if the flight is cancelled with less than two weeks' notice due to 'exceptional circumstances'.
However, customers are also advised to check whether or not their airline is UK or EU-based, as this can impact what they are entitled to.
Calls for Nats CEO to resign over disruption
Nats boss Martin Rolfe has been facing increasing calls to resign in the aftermath of the disruption, with Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes telling BBC's Politics Live that the disruption is another example of the provider's 'failing'.
This isn't the first time in which travellers flying through the UK have faced disruptions, with a 'radar-related issue grounding flights back in August 2023, causing delays and cancellations for over 700,000 passengers. Meanwhile, a 'software error' in 2025 meant that 150 flights across the UK were cancelled.
"I think he should resign," he said.
Ryanair has also called for Rolfe's resignation, with COO Neal McMahon saying he should accept responsibility for the company's 'repeated mismanagement'.
"Families travelling on holiday, people travelling for work and thousands of visitors to the UK have once again paid the price for NATS’ abhorrent failure," he said.
"The astonishing part is that NATS continues to charge airlines and passengers more each year while delivering a worse service."
Brenna Cooper